Validity of Infant Race/Ethnicity from Birth Certificates in the Context of U.S. Demographic ChangePosted in Articles, Census/Demographics, Health/Medicine/Genetics, Media Archive, Social Work, United States on 2014-04-17 21:45Z by Steven |
Validity of Infant Race/Ethnicity from Birth Certificates in the Context of U.S. Demographic Change
Health Services Research
Volume 49, Issue 1 (February 2014)
pages 249–267
DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.12083
Lisa Reyes Mason, Assistant Professor of Social Work
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Yunju Nam, Associate Professor of Social Work
State University of New York, Buffalo
Youngmi Kim, Assistant Professor of Social Work
Virginia Commonwealth University
Objective
To compare infant race/ethnicity based on birth certificates with parent report of infant race/ethnicity in a survey.
Data Sources
The 2007 Oklahoma birth certificates and SEED for Oklahoma Kids baseline survey.
Study Design
Using sensitivity scores and positive predictive values, we examined consistency of infant race/ethnicity across two data sources (N = 2,663).
Data Collection/Extraction Methods
We compared conventional measures of infant race/ethnicity from birth certificate and survey data. We also tested alternative measures that allow biracial classification, determined from parental information on the infant’s birth certificate or parental survey report.
Principal Findings
Sensitivity of conventional measures is highest for whites and African Americans and lowest for Hispanics; positive predictive value is highest for Hispanics and African Americans and lowest for American Indians. Alternative measures improve values among whites but yield mostly low values among minority and biracial groups.
Conclusions
Health disparities research should consider the source and validity of infant race/ethnicity data when creating sampling frames or designing studies that target infants by race/ethnicity. The common practice of assigning the maternal race/ethnicity as infant race/ethnicity should continue to be challenged.
Read or purchase the article here.